The shortage of cyber security specialists is not just an Australian problem.

ISACA, a non-profit information security advocacy group, predicted that there would be a global shortage of cyber security professionals by 2019.

Aside from data attacks, Mr Edwards said the online world gave people the ability to cause harm.

"Cyber threats could evolve into something that could be more violent, ultimately cause loss of life," he said.

"Right now, I don't think we're seeing that on this scale but I think it's something that could definitely evolve."

Government and private sector 'must work together'

Patrick Walsh, a former commander of the US Navy's Pacific Fleet now employed by an international cybersecurity firm, said online threats were forcing governments to rethink how they protected communities.

"In the past we would have a government approach and we would have a private sector approach," he said.

"Increasingly we need to leverage each other and we need to find ways to work more collaboratively and more transparently so that information is shared."

Mr Walsh said it was an ongoing challenge to remain on top of the evolving threat.

"There's been so many changes in the cyber security environment over a short period of time, it makes me anxious and nervous because there's a real threat of miscalculation," he said.

"When you start to wonder whether or not you can trust data and trust the outcome of an election, that starts to undermine public trust in institutions."